Multiple sclerosis (Ms) is a disease of thousand faces. It leaves an impact on aerobic capacity, muscle strength and muscle mass. It causes muscle atrophy which eventually leads to incapability to activate muscles. Electrical stimulation (ES) is recommended for those with neuromuscular diseases because it can increase muscle strength, it delays the onset of muscle atrophy and relieves pain due to spasticity. Subthreshold electrical stimulation (SES) represents stimulation of peripheral sensory fibres using small electrical currents. SES increases the excitability of alpha motoneurons, consequently recruiting additional MEs and thus represents a potentially positive addition to exercise with conscious muscle contraction.
The aim of our study was to examine the effect of SES on ankle plantar flexion voluntary isometric contraction torque in healthy subjects and subjects with Ms. The influence of SES was measured during different intensities (20, 60 and 100 % maximal voluntary contraction – MVC) and with 20 Hz or 80 Hz electrical train impulses. We measured the torque using isometric ankle dynamometer device. Twenty-four healthy subjects and subjects with Ms were recruited. We checked the differences in torque between conditions and both groups with the three-way analysis of variance one second before, one second during and one second after the
stimulation.
The results from our study present statistically significant differences between groups in torque values. As expected, the subjects in Ms group produced lower torque. We also found statistically significant differences in torque values before, during and after SES, regardless of frequency (20 or 80 Hz) and intensity of MVC (20, 60 and 100 %). Torque was the lowest in the interval after SES. The SES frequency had no effect on torque values. The results of our research show that the SES protocols used in our research were not efficient for acute increase in plantar flexion torque production. Since our study was the first testing the theoretical background of the acute increasement of voluntary muscle force production with interpolation of SES among physically disabled people, additional research is needed in the future to confirm our results.
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